Anza Events Calendar, A-2
High Country Recreation announces baseball and softball sign ups, A-3
Water saving plants to put in a garden, B-1
ANZA VALLEY
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OUTLOOK
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WITH CONTENT FROM
April 10 – 16, 2015
www.anzavalleyoutlook.com
Local
AEC announces informational meetings for high speed Internet project
Section Volume 15, Issue 15
Name change for Anza VFW Post becomes official to honor Drivick
Area residents are invited to a series of public meetings to learn how Anza Electric Cooperative, Inc. will build a fiber optic network to serve area homes and businesses with affordable and reliable high speed internet access. see page A-3
Local
Anza Valley mower racing season to begin Jodi Thomas Anza Area Manager Racing fans are getting revved up and ready to watch Anza Racing Mowers in action. Super-modes, which can travel as fast as 55 mph, will be flying around Anza’s oval mower race track, kicking up dirt, hugging the curves and then speeding into the straight-a-ways. see page A-5 Post Commander Mike Mrsny explains the process VFW Post officials went through to receive the new name on the post charter.
Opinion
Jodi Thomas Anza Area Manager
What a waste! Kim Harris Managing Editor Drought. It’s one word that needs to strike fear in the hearts of many, but yet almost no one I know is talking about it. Yes, it made the news again last week when Governor Jerry Brown issued the first ever statewide mandatory water restrictions. Even though the supply of one of our most precious resources continues to dwindle, cities, residents and water districts seem to be keeping their heads in the sand.
Anza Valley Outlook
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see page A-8
It’s official; Anza’s VFW Post #1873 has been renamed in the memory and honor of Capt. John Francis Drivick III who passed away last December. The official name change ceremony was held on Tuesday, March
21 with a potluck feast that followed. The name change and ceremony were meant to celebrate a man that was so respected and loved by his VFW Comrades that the vote to change the post’s name after him was unanimous. A longtime member, Drivick was known for his always present ear, helping hand, leadership, car-
ing heart, energy and his ability to make everyone feel special. “I am humble and proud to preside over the ceremony to honor my friend, a brother in arms, a combat veteran, and VFW Comrade for over 40 years,” Post Commander Mike Mrsny said during the officiating ceremony. He ended his speech announcing,
Jodi Thomas photo
“In compliance with the official vote and by the authority of the Commander and Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America, I now declare now and henceforth this post to be known as Capt. John Francis Drivick III Post 1873.”
see VFW, page A-4
Know Your Neighbor: Steve Packard, contractor Jodi Thomas Anza Area Manager Know Your Neighbor is a new series that highlights men and women of the Anza Valley and its territories. The first person Anza Valley Outlook is profiling is general contractor Steve Packard of Packard Construction, a friendly member of the community who is considered by many to be an allaround likeable guy. The following is his story. Steve Packard and his family would often come to visit his wife’s parents who lived in the countryside of the Anza Valley and the experience proved vastly different from the hustle and bustle found in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Steve and his wife lived at the time. At first the Anza area seemed like a wasteland to Steve, but with each visit the place grew on him. During one such visit Steve sat on his father-in-law’s porch, admiring the view. When his father-in- law said, “Stop. Listen. What do you hear?” “Nothing,” was Steve’s response.
see PACKARD, page A-7
Paul Pedtke, Tonie Ford and Steve Packard, right, at the the pouring of concrete pads to install park benches at Minor Park in Anza. Courtesy photo
Get to know your new ACHA board Jodi Thomas Anza Area Manager We are welcoming a new Anza Community Hall Association Board for the 2015-2017 term. Nine people were elected on March 19 at the last general meeting; seven to the board and two as alternates. To help them introduce themselves to the community a questionnaire was sent to each of the board members so our AVO read-
ers could get to know them better. Each was asked to share something about their experience and background and the same three questions: 1.) What would you like to accomplish on the board? 2.) What are your goals for the hall? 3.) What was the biggest impression/ feeling/ surprise/challenge you encountered at your first board meeting (March 23)? Their responses will be shared
over the next few weeks. The next three to share are the Board Vice President Danny Stone, Board Director Dr. Fred Zadick and Board Alternate Director Dan Robinson. The next ACHA general meeting will be held Thursday, April at 7 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. The Community Hall is supported solely by proceeds raised by membership fees, swap meet fees, hall rentals, and donations.
The board responsible to oversee the running of the hall is voted in by the membership. The ACHA Board volunteers their time and talents for the good of the Hall and the good of the community. Call “Taz” Hofstot at (714) 392-4069 if you would like to join the hall or attend a meeting and join then.
see ACHA, page A-6